In June , we attended the MoCannTrade association meetup and vendor showcase in Kansas City for the association ’ s Missouri cannabis business owners and professionals who proactively work together to build a successful , safe , and compliant medical and adult-use cannabis industry . Its first meetings were held in January 2019 and have continued quarterly throughout 2024 . The meetups have continually grown as quickly as the industry has .
The June meeting ’ s host site was the Stoney Creek Conference Center in Independence , which saw a record-breaking number of members attend . Over 860 industry peers , members , and new microbusiness applicants attended what MoCannTrade said was its largest , most beneficial , and most engaging meetup to date .
We have attended these meetups since 2019 , and it ’ s quite amazing to see how far we ’ ve come today with so many Missouri cannabis business owners and professionals working together to enhance an already flourishing industry . Just as amazing was seeing the vast amount of new and innovative products now available in dispensaries for consumers . Over 40 exhibitors attended , showcasing their newest products at the brands expo . All suppliers were fantastic with branding , displays , and providing ample information about the newest products .
Looking back to the early days when the first dispensaries opened in late 2020 , only offering flower and maybe a few edible options compared to where we are today , just four years later , with the vast number of quality products available for purchase , is truly mindboggling . And new products just keep coming . It ’ s a good time for Missouri consumers .
Missouri legislators also showed up for the Kansas City meetup . A bipartisan group of over 20 Missouri legislators attended the June meetup , including House floor leader Rep . Dr . John Patterson , Democratic Caucus Policy Leader Rep . Johnson , and numerous other legislators from the NW Missouri and Mid-Missouri areas . These Missouri legislators took the opportunity to engage their constituents and learn more about Missouri ’ s cannabis industry stakeholders , goals , and economic impact . Even Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas spoke at the meeting and expo , showing his support for Missouri ’ s cannabis industry ( see photo on page 14 ).
Missouri ’ s legal cannabis industry sales continue to grow . To date , Missouri has 113,084 total active patient certifications and nearly 20,000 state-approved employees working at facilities . Missouri has now reached $ 2.5 billion in cumulative cannabis sales ( since October 2020 ) as of May . In May alone ( the last reported monthly sales number to date ), retail sales reached $ 123.7 million , with $ 108.2 million generated by adult-use purchases and $ 15.5 million from medical patient sales — a total sales increase of 3 % over April . Since March of 2023 , combined monthly sales have remained steady at about $ 100 million –– good news for consumers and thriving businesses alike .
Missouri consumers , businesses , employees , and all who worked tirelessly for so many years advocating for change shall indeed celebrate their newfound freedom to sell and purchase legally in Missouri this July . Enjoy July and Stay Cool ! Wow , it ’ s hot out there !
6 July 2024
From
Bill Cromwell , Publisher
TheEditor
, Editor-in-Chief
Supply , Demand , Success
MAGAZINE
Missouri ’ s First Educational Medical Cannabis Magazine Published Monthly by Native Kansas City , MO , Advocates , Publishers and Writers . A True Missouri Born Grassroots Effort to Educate and Inform Patients , and to Provide Businesses within The Missouri Cannabis Industry an Economical Forum to Share Their Story . We hope you join and enjoy “ The EVOLUTION .” Since 2019
PUBLISHER , EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Bill Cromwell News , Articles , Advertisement , & Requests Should Email to : Bill . C @ TheEvolutionMag . com Corporate Office 816.886.9017 Kansas City , MO Mail to : P . O . Box 485 , Grain Valley , MO 64029
MANAGING EDITOR , VP OF OPERATIONS : Victoria Cromwell Subscription inquiries / updates to : Victoria . c @ theevolutionmag . com
DIRECTOR MARKETING and EDITORIAL DEVELOPMENT : Clayton Stallings CREATIVE DESIGNER , GRAPHIC ARTS and EDITORIAL : Bill Cromwell PHOTOGRAPHY : Clayton Stallings , and guests photographers
Our Team of Expert Writers and Cannabis Industry Leaders
● Danielle Buntyon ― Elevated Learning
● Dana Cunningham — Cooking with CBD and THC
● Dolores Halbin , RN — Patient Advocate and Awareness
● Peter Kershaw — Health and Safety Columnist
● Leah Maurer — Health , Awareness , Ask Leah Columnist
● Dr . Poppa , D . O ., M . B . A . ― Medical Health News
● Jay Richardson ― Patient Features
● Rocco Scarcello ― Educational
● Todd Scattini ― Veterans News
● Monthly Guest Writers — Cannabis News & Feature Stories
The EVOLUTION TM Magazine offers a monthly print magazine that is distributed throughout western Missouri , select St . Louis locations , eastern Kansas and the Lake of the Ozarks region . Free printed copies are found at nearly 360 locations including CBD stores , MMJ Dispensaries , Garden and Grow Supply Stores , doctors offices , restaurants , sports bars , resorts , and many other select locations . In addition , the monthly magazine is offered online in an inter-active E-magazine at www . TheEvolutionMag . com .
NOTICE : The publisher / editor reserves the right to reject whatever material does not fit with the vision or intent of this publication . Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher and do not imply endorsement , nor are we responsible for the products or services advertised . The contributing writers , staff or owners of THE EVOLUTION Magazine LLC cannot be held liable for hardship or losses incurred due to any content associated within this publication or websites . Written views , advertisements and information expressed in this publication belong to the writers or advertisers and do not reflect the sentiments or editorial opinion of the publisher or staff . We cannot be held responsible for ; views , opinions , changes to scheduling , prices , rates or the occasional typographical errors .
ADVERTISEMENT NOTICE : Advertisers have the right to terminate promotions or special offers / coupons , change rates or fees without notice . All listed guides , rates , fees and information herein are non-binding reference material only . Always check with listed businesses or advertisers for its latest updates , current prices and / or special offers .
FDA Disclaimer : Any statements / claims made within this magazine have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration . No articles , products or Ads featured within these pages are intended to diagnose , treat , cure , prevent any disease , ailment or disorder . Medical decisions should not be made based on advertisements within these pages . Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products . Products mentioned within are only for use by adults age 21 and older . Keep such products out of reach of children . The information within is a sharing of knowledge and information based on the writers research , opinions and / or educated experience only .
© 2019 – 2024 The EVOLUTION TM Magazine . All Rights Proprietary and Conceptual Designs Reserved . Reproduction of any part of this publication ’ s contents is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Publisher or Managing Editor .
TM